A Short Tribute to my Favorite Comic/Social Critic: George Carlin 1937-2008
George Carlin is my favorite comedian, social commentator and linguistic philosopher. In life he could be profane, irreverent, controversial and downright crass. He was also one of the most insightful observers of human nature and the English language in the last 50 years. As a young boy in the 60’s I remember him well as Al Sleet, the Hippie-Dippie weather man on Laugh-in. I also remember when he caused a national frenzy in the 70’s with his “seven words” you can’t say on TV. His words were so provocative that they ultimately found their way to the Supreme Court in 1978 and a ruling (ironically) upholding the government’s authority to issue sanctions for broadcasting offensive language during hours when children might be listening.
What most impressed me about George Carlin wasn’t the ”colorful” language so much as his ability to shed light on the delusional and foolish things we say and do. He used to poke fun at euphemisms:
Shell Shock vs. Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Beauty Mark vs. Ugly Mole on the Nose
He hated the politician’s use of the passive voice: “Mistakes were made.”
He whittled down the 10 Commandments to only 2 : Don’t steal from other people and try REAL HARD not to kill anyone.
And one of his most profound statements: “All the problems in the world can be traced to what fathers do to their sons!” Simple yet profound.
George described himself best in this way: “I was always out of step. I left school in ninth grade, I got kicked out of the Air Force, I got kicked out of the choir and the alter boys and summer camp and three schools and I was a pot smoker when I was 13 in the early 50’s. I was always a lawbreaker and a kind of outlaw rebel.”
Ultimately, George Carlin was always willing to say things that the rest of only wanted to say but never did. He was a man who truly did find his own voice and used it. He brought humor and some biting criticism to a whole generation of Americans. Judging from all of the tributes to him today, I’m certainly not alone in my sadness at his passing. He made me laugh a lot over the years. He also made me think as well.
